All In

Sep 03, 2013 06:04PM
● By tina

Bryan Campanello wins big at World Series of Poker.

Southlake's Poker Pro Bryan Campanello is the King of Cards

By Sean Chaffin

Thousands of players from around
the world flock to the World Series of Poker each summer to try their hands at
poker glory. This year’s series featured 61 tournaments culminating in the
$10,000 buy-in Main Event, the world championship of Texas Hold ’em, broadcast live
on ESPN. The series of tournaments leading up to the championship feature their
own massive fields and major payouts, each awarding the winner a coveted gold
bracelet — the biggest trophy in poker. For 21-year-old Southlake native Bryan
Campanello, these events at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas proved a
great gamble. The young cardsharp bested a field of 301 players to earn a
bracelet, as well as $178,052.With several other recent top-tournament
finishes, Bryan might be one of the hottest young players in the game.

“Winning a bracelet was a dream come true,” he says. “It’s
something that most pokers only get to think about, much less accomplish, in their
first summer in Las Vegas. I had a lot of friends on the rail who travel the
WSOP Circuit with me. It was nice to have a support system out there and have
them pushing me.” Bryan won his bracelet playing
Razz, an obscure game where players are dealt seven cards total (three down and
four up). Players bet as the cards are dealt, hoping for the lowest hand with
A-2-3-4-5 being the best. With little experience in the game, Bryan took advantage
of online information and tips to learn more about it. His research paid off.

Poker Life

The road to victory is never easy in
the WSOP. After feeling well the first two days, Bryan was exhausted by the
third day, which lasted until 4 a.m.

“Poker is a mentally straining game, and after three 12-plus
hour days, you are really tired,” he says. “On days one and two though, I was
fresh and learning a lot about the game.”

When he was younger, Southlake’s newfound poker star found his
inspiration to take up the game watching the WSOP on TV. By the time he was in
the seventh grade, Bryan asked his father, John, for a poker table to use for
games with friends.

“I played
with them a few times but didn’t grow up playing cards, so I really didn’t have
much interest,” John says of those early games. “Eventually, Bryan started
playing online poker, and that’s when he began to really get into the game. He
is an avid reader and started reading all sorts of poker books, articles on
various poker sites and blogs. Then during his winter break in 2011, he played
in a live tournament at a WSOP Circuit event at a Choctaw Casino in Oklahoma.” That
first visit to the Choctaw proved to be more than auspicious: Bryan entered two
tournaments, winning the first and placing runner-up in the second.

“After
that, I remember him calling my wife and me to tell us he was at the final
table of a large online tournament,” John says. “He paid $24 to enter and won
the event for about $24,000. My wife and I didn’t know what to think of it at
that point, but we made him deposit the winnings into a savings account.”

More success followed over the next few years, including a
win of $107,730 for a fourth-place finish at a WSOP Circuit event at the same Choctaw
Casino in January of this year. Bryan added a win in a $365 buy-in circuit
event in Blackhawk, Colo., in March of this year for $21,223. Friends and
opponents describe Bryan as a relentless
player: Players often have a difficult time deciphering what kind of hand he is
holding — a distinct advantage in a game based on skill and outwitting your
opponents.

“The
other thing that makes him a good player is that he has a great memory,” notes John,
who eventually began playing after his son took up the game. “He is a trivia
buff and easily remembers movie lines and television quotes in great detail. With
poker, he can remember hand histories and how certain players play various
hands. This skill provides a unique edge. I also think the skills he learned
from all the years he spent in debate help him as well. The trait he has that
really is a difference-maker is that he doesn’t get nervous. In fact, I have
never seen him nervous.”

Yet, it
was a comment about his behavior at the table that really sticks out in John’s mind.
At a recent tournament, a few fellow players offered some compliments about his
son, calling him a nice young man who is very respectful to other players and
tournament staff.

“It was a
huge compliment and made me feel very proud,” he says.

Southlake Card Shark

Growing up, Bryan loved
his childhood in Southlake; he cherishes his hometown’s close-knit sense of
community. When they’re all in town, Bryan and his high-school friends spend
time at Southlake Town Square catching a movie or grabbing a beer at The Ginger
Man. Away from the table, Bryan enjoys attending sporting events and
playing trivia games.

Much of his
competitive spirit was developed in high school,
competing for four years on the Carroll Dragon debate team. Travelling to
events across the country, Bryan honed his skills, which earned him a
scholarship to George Mason University in Washington, D.C., but he returned
home after one year to focus on poker. The move allowed him to play at the
WinStar Casino in Oklahoma and travel to more live tournaments, yet he still
had time to continue his education. Bryan transferred to the University of
North Texas where he is 30 hours away from a degree in political science. After
his recent big win, he decided to take one semester off for a bit of travel and
more poker. His first stop is Florida,
then Toronto to play poker online (online poker is now illegal in most of the
U.S.); after that, it’s off to London and Paris for a few tournaments. The life
of a poker champion can certainly have its rewards. With $380,000 in live-tournament
winnings, Bryan can now afford to play the world’s most prestigious events and
has a bankroll for more cash games. Despite all his success, friends and family
say he has remained grounded.

“Bryan is easygoing but an
intense competitor,” John says. “He is well-rounded, well-traveled and
well-read. He is very bright, highly confident, and when he sets his mind to
something, he usually exceeds at a high level. As with any parent, we only want
the best for him, and we feel he has chosen a path that fits his personality and
his natural strengths. I wouldn’t be surprised if he excels at poker for many
years, then changes focus to business or politics.” Although
poker players are notorious for going broke — dealing with huge cash
fluctuations is normal for many poker pros — Bryan has no big plans for his
winnings other than for more poker. He has received plenty of support from his
family and plans to be smart with his money.

Reactions to Bryan’s career
on the poker circuit go one of two ways: Some people don’t know much about
poker and might have notions of the game being a bit shady; others have a fair
understanding of the game and are excited someone they know is succeeding at it.

“Most people don’t know
it’s more than a game of chance,” John says. “It’s a game that requires great
skill, a tremendous amount of focus and very long, tedious hours. It’s hard
work that isn’t easy on the mind or body — you have to earn it. My wife
and I realize Bryan has chosen a unique career path with poker, and we fully
support his efforts. We’re very proud of how he has handled his early success
because he hasn’t changed his focus.” And what’s his current
focus? Getting another big win, of course.

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Rockwall, Texas. His
new book, RAISING THE STAKES: True Tales
of Gambling, Wagering and Poker Faces, is
available as an eBook and in paperback at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. He
is also editor of PokerTraditions.com, all about poker history, lore and
people. If you have a story idea, email seanchaffin@sbcglobal.net. Follow
him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.